-From the KC Studio at WETA, students from St.

Albans... Magruder... and Bethesda-Chevy Chase meet today on "It's Academic."

♪♪ ♪♪ Hello, everybody.

Welcome to "It's Academic," the world's longest-running TV quiz show, now in its 65th season, produced by Altman Productions and the great WETA.

-Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following.

George Mason University -- All Together Different.

♪♪ -Call us different.

-Different in where we come from... -...where we're going... -...and how we think.

-But the same in our dreams for tomorrow.

-Driven by the pull of possibility... -...to inspire... -...to think fearlessly... -...to protect and to heal the planet.

-We know the world will change.

-Together... -...we will be the ones to change it.

-Call Mason different -- All... -...together... -...different.

[ Applause ] -Hi, guys.

We are so happy that you've decided to join us yet again for "It's Academic."

It'll be another great match, and we begin, as we always do, teams, with Fast Start.

And in this Fast Start round, questions are worth 10 points up or down.

First team to buzz in gets to answer.

And for you guys at home, the students don't see what you do on your screens.

Now here we go.

You won't need luck.

Just remember that all answers in this round will begin with the letter "L."

-Labor Day.

-Correct.

-Llama.

-Correct.

-Answer.

Three.

Two.

One.

-Lusaka?

Lusaka.

-Ooh.

Yes.

-Lavoisier.

-Yes.

Lavoisier is right.

-Lungs.

-Yeah.

-Lithium.

-Lithium's right.

-Legolas.

-That is right.

Legolas.

-Latin.

-Latin is right.

-"Last Supper."

-Yes.

That's right.

It is in Milan.

Nicely done.

-Lobster.

-Lobster is right.

And that does it for our Fast Start.

Let's recap those scores.

St.

Albans -- 130.

Magruder -- 100.

BCC -- 170 points.

[ Applause ] All right.

Let's meet these teams, huh?

We begin with St.

Albans School, located in Washington, DC.

Hello, Kieran.

What should we know about you?

-Hi.

I'm Kieran.

I'm 17.

I'm a senior, and I swim and row crew.

-All right.

Cool.

Hello, Arjun.

-Hi, Hillary.

I'm Arjun.

I'm 17.

I'm a senior at St.

Albans, and I play tennis.

-Awesome.

And Matthew.

-Hi.

I'm Matthew, I'm a junior at St.

Albans.

And I've recently picked up singing in high school.

-Oh!

That's lovely.

Okay.

What do you sing?

-I'm a baritone.

-Very nice.

Gentlemen, here are your questions.

They're worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

Major Dante Research.

You'll have no problems if you find hidden here the name of what Middle East country whose capital is Amman.

[ Buzzer ] -Jordan.

-Jordan is right.

And you don't even have to buzz.

This is just for you.

Sand hog, Sherpa, spelunker -- Which of these is another word for a person who explores caves?

-Spelunker.

-Yeah.

"The fan heir" -- Rearrange these letters and you'll get the last name of what German scientist who developed and named the temperature scale currently used in this country?

-Fahrenheit.

-It is Fahrenheit.

To complete this quote from one political leader, add what type of waterway, such as the Volga or Yangtze?

-Rivers.

-Rivers is right.

Barium, boron, argon -- Combine the chemical symbols for these elements, and you'll spell the name of what fictional elephant king whose queen was Celeste?

-Babar.

-Yeah.

You won't need a knife and fork if you know that the man who posed this question is from what country, where Warsaw is capital?

-Poland.

-Poland is right.

Nicely done, St.

Albans.

250 points.

[ Applause ] To Magruder High School from Derwood, Maryland.

Sydney, hi.

How you doing?

-Hi.

I'm Sydney.

I'm 14.

I'm a freshman at Magruder, and I really love doing theater.

-Lovely.

Nice to have you.

Hiya, Kobe.

-Hi.

My name's Kobe Benton.

I'm a 17-year-old senior at Magruder.

And outside of this, I'm currently help planning my school's annual Minority Scholars retreat, which we're hosting at our school this year.

-Beautiful.

Very nice.

And finally, Ethan.

Hi.

-Hi.

I'm Ethan.

I'm a 14-year-old freshman at Magruder.

I enjoy playing sports and everything animals.

-Everything animals.

[ Laughs ] Okay.

Maybe we'll have some animal questions for you.

I'm not sure.

I don't remember.

Here we go, guys.

Tub, rail, leaks -- You can plug the leak and earn 20 points by finding here the last name of what Frenchman who created a system of raised dots allowing the blind to read.

-Braille.

-Yeah.

Arboreal, arduous, arterial.

A task that is difficult can best be described by which of these words?

-Arduous.

-Yeah.

That's it.

Men, set, wrist -- Though this phrase suggests broken bones, the letters can be rearranged to name what London abbey where English coronations are held?

-Westminster.

-Yeah.

To complete the statement from one author, add what word that names the cabinet department headed by an attorney general?

-Justice.

-That's it.

Astatine, lanthanum, sulfur.

Combine the chemical symbols for these elements, and you'll name what mythical Titan condemned to forever hold the heavens on his shoulders?

-Atlas.

-That's right.

This was author Ralph Ellison's description of a type of music developed by African Americans, named for what primary color?

Answer?

-Black?

-No.

Blues!

The blues, the blues, the blues.

Magruder -- 200 points.

[ Applause ] To Bethesda-Chevy Chase from Bethesda, Maryland.

Hiya, Zach.

-Hi.

I'm Zach.

I'm a senior at BCC.

And in addition to "It's Academic," I'm also the president and founder of the BCC Pokemon Club.

-[ Laughing ] Very nice.

Hi.

Micah.

-Hi.

I'm Micah.

I'm a 17-year-old senior at BCC.

And this summer I interned at the Winnipeg City Council.

-Wow.

There's a story behind that we don't have time for.

But that's fascinating.

Hiya, Seth.

-Hi.

My name is Seth.

I'm a senior at BCC.

And my family is currently fostering our seventh cat.

Her name is Didi, and she's just the cutest thing you've ever seen.

-[ Laughing ] Very nice.

Here we go, guys.

"Forever Texas!"

This might be a motto for Texas, but if you look closely, you can find hidden here what word that names the point at which the sides of an angle intersect?

-Vertex.

-Vertex.

-Vertex is right.

Audacious, serene, incensed -- Someone who is very calm can best be described by which of these adjectives?

-Serene.

-Serene.

Yeah.

"Spa herd" -- Before you join the crowds at a health resort, see if you can rearrange these letters to name the first American astronaut to go into space.

-Shepard.

-It is.

To complete this quote from Benjamin Franklin add what celestial body 93 million miles away?

-Sun.

-Sun.

-Sun is right.

Rhodium, iodine, nitrogen, oxygen -- Combine the symbols for these four elements to get what word, the shortened version for the name of a large mammal?

-Rhino.

-Rhino it is.

With this comment, a Roman emperor refused to pay tribute to what fifth-century king of the Huns?

-Attila.

-It is Attila.

Nicely done, BCC.

290 points.

[ Applause ] And that does it for Mix & Match.

Picture Perfect is next.

See you in a minute.

-In 1961, nine high school students walked into a TV studio in Washington, DC, to film the very first episode of "It's Academic."

-Good evening and welcome to "It's Academic," the weekly program... -Little did they know that over the course of the next 65 years, thousands of high school students would follow them onto the set and into broadcast history.

-I think what has kept "It's Academic" on the air for so long -- You had strong support from the schools, and we've had a strong community support.

-There aren't a ton of outlets to, like, be competitive in an academic setting.

-It teaches composure, knowledge, wisdom.

-And it's like an engaging, fun quiz show.

But it also teaches you so much about the world and so many different facets.

-Today, "It's Academic" is celebrating 65 years and is the world's longest-running TV quiz show.

Thank you, students, schools, viewers, and fans.

And remember -- "It's Academic."

♪♪ -So, we've been collecting some pictures for this round.

That's why we call it the Picture Perfect round.

Questions are worth 20 points up or down.

Once again, first team to buzz in gets to answer.

Guys, this early astronomical sign stood for what large asteroid named for the Roman goddess of grain, the counterpart -- BCC.

Answer?

Three, two, one.

-Hestia?

-Nope.

Ceres.

Thus began a letter to what British adventurer who said he wanted to be called by that number?

He's famous for leading an Arab uprising during World War -- BCC.

-Lawrence of Arabia.

-That is right.

This painting, titled "The Lifeline," is by what American artist whose first name was Winslow?

Magruder.

-Homer.

-Yes.

That's it.

Excluding 0, solve for X. Yeah.

BCC.

-1.

-1 is right.

This shark is named for what largest island in the world?

-Greenland.

-Yeah.

That's right, St.

Albans.

The Venetian Santa Maria della Salute church was built in attempt to end what fleaborne disease that killed one-third -- St.

Albans.

-The plague.

The plague is right.

Cambium, epidermis, pith -- A tree trunk increases in diameter because of cell division -- St.

Albans.

-Cambium.

-Cambium's correct.

Robert Louis Stevenson poses here with friends on what -- -Haiti.

-No.

Samoa.

What S-initialed island in the Pacific?

And that does it for Picture Perfect.

Let's recap those scores.

St.

Albans -- 310 points.

Magruder -- 200 points.

Bethesda-Chevy Chase -- 310 points.

♪♪ Well, let's meet the coaches, huh?

Because these students are amazing in their own right, but these folks who help them make them even better for "It's Academic."

Let's begin with St.

Albans.

Who's with you, Arjun?

-Yes.

So, we have Mr.

Mills and Mr.

Seese with us.

And we'd like to thank them for all their help in organizing practices and helping us prepare for today.

-Awesome.

Really good to see you guys.

Over to Magruder.

Kobe, who's behind you?

-Here with us today is our coach, Mr.

Sanders, and our amazing principal, Mr.

Ascienzo.

This is his third year.

I'd like to thank our parents who are in the audience today, and the other members of our team, including Max, Miguel, Henry, and Gaelle.

-Beautiful.

Good to see you guys.

And finally, Bethesda-Chevy Chase.

Micah?

-We have with us our extraordinarily supportive coach, Ms.

Lassar, and our wonderfully active principal, Mr.

Yates.

-[ Laughing ] Okay.

Great to have all of you.

Thanks so much for being here.

[ Applause ] And now for one of my favorite rounds of the show -- but actually all of the rounds are kind of favorite to me -- the packet round.

You guys know how this works.

St.

Albans, you'll answer questions first.

Magruder, you get to pick which packet they answer questions from -- one, two, or three.

-We'll give them three.

-All right.

We'll give them three.

Are you ready for packet three, St.

Albans?

-Yes.

-All right.

Questions are worth 20 points.

Nothing off for a wrong answer.

If you get all the questions right, there is a?

-25-point bonus.

-Thank you very much.

Could've used a little more enthusiasm, but yes!

[ Laughter ] -Sorry.

Here we go.

In 2010, NASA astronomers discovered huge, high-energy bubbles on either side of what galaxy of which Earth is a part?

-The Milky Way.

-It is Milky Way.

Salem was known for its witch trials, but its merchants invested heavily in ships and harpoons for hunting what largest mammals?

-Whales.

-Whales it is.

North African Berbers, known as Moors, overran Spain in 711 and then crossed what mountain range separating Spain and France?

-Pyrenees?

-Yes.

Here's your science question.

Which of these terms describes liquids that will not mix with each other, such as oil and water?

-Immiscible.

-That's it.

-Though illegal, mongoose-snake fighting contests still take place on what O-initialed Pacific island where the U.S.

maintains several military bases?

-Oahu.

-Okinawa.

No.

Sorry.

Today the word "yahoo" brings to mind an Internet search engine.

But yahoos were mythical brutes in what Jonathan Swift novel, written in 1726?

-"Gulliver's Travels."

-Yeah.

-Here's your math question.

Taking positive roots, what's the value of this expression?

-Zero.

-Yes.

As befitting its royal station, the mummy of what R-initialed Egyptian pharaoh was greeted with full military honors when it was sent to Paris in 1974?

-Ramses.

-It is Ramses.

Nice job, St.

Albans.

450 points.

[ Applause ] All right.

Magruder, you're up.

BCC -- packet one or two?

-Two.

-Two.

All right.

Team, "spaghettification" is the official term for what will happen if you fall into what kind of phenomenon with a two-word name created by a collapsed star not even light can escape.

-Black hole.

-Black hole.

It is.

In the 1840s, the population of what island, part of the British Isles, was cut in half as people fled to America because of the potato famine?

-Ireland.

-Yeah.

Monument Rock was a stopping place in the 1840s for wagon trains traveling along what trail that shares its name with a northwestern state?

-Oregon Trail.

-Yeah.

Science question.

When we talk about a substance in terms of its mass-per-unit volume, we're referring to which of these specific properties?

-Density.

-Density.

-It is.

The prime meridian, or zero degrees longitude, passes through what English town and observatory for which the prime meridian is named?

-Greenwich.

-That's it.

In "The Merchant of Venice," Portia is a rich heiress.

But in what other Shakespeare play is Portia the wife of the Roman conspirator Brutus?

-"Julius Caesar"?

-Yeah.

Here's your math question.

Evaluate this expression, giving your answer as an integer.

-36.

-That's it.

Although he didn't invent the hot dog, what king did rule the Franks in the 9th century and relished being crowned emperor in 800 AD?

-Charlemagne.

-Charlemagne is right.

25-point bonus for Magruder!

[ Applause ] And this leaves packet number one for Bethesda-Chevy Chase.

Guys, a Polynesian word meaning "sheltered harbor" gives us what name for the capital of Hawaii?

-Honolulu.

-It is.

Operation Crossroads was the official designation assigned to the 1946 atomic-bomb tests on what Pacific atoll, which gave its name to a two-piece type of bathing suit?

-Bikini Atoll.

-That's it.

Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, came from what Western state whose capital is Helena?

-Montana.

-It is Montana.

Here's your science question.

Which of these compounds that includes a noble gas was long thought impossible to form but has now been produced in the lab?

-XeF4.

-You're right.

The extinction of the dinosaurs may have been due to a succession of meteor strikes, including one in what European sea with a directional name?

-North Sea?

-North Sea.

-North Sea.

-North Sea is right.

Big Brother plays a big role in "1984," a novel about totalitarianism by what British author?

-Orwell.

-That's correct.

Here's your math question.

Taking positive roots, evaluate this expression for B equals 25, giving your answer as a fraction in lowest terms.

-4.

-4.

-No.

4/5.

In celebration, England's King Henry VII awarded a bonus of £10 to what Italian-born explorer who discovered Newfoundland in 1497?

-I have no idea.

-Hudson?

-Hudson.

-Nah.

John Cabot.

But nice job, BCC.

430 points.

[ Applause ] Packet round is in the books, and the Grab Bag is coming at you next.

Stay with us.

"It's Academic" has been on the air for 65 years.

And over the decades, we've showcased thousands of high school students from all over the DC area.

Today, "It's Academic" continues to celebrate education and remains a critical part of WETA's mission-focused programming.

With the recent loss of federal funding for public media, we need your help now more than ever to support "It's Academic."

Please make a donation and become a Friend of It's Academic today and help keep "It's Academic" on the air and streaming for our students and their futures.

♪♪ -This is a close game, which means this will be a very exciting Grab Bag round.

But let's take a look at these scores, huh?

St.

Albans -- 450 points.

Magruder -- 385 points.

Bethesda-Chevy Chase -- 430 points.

And now for the questions.

They're worth 20 points up or down.

Once again, the first team to buzz in gets to answer.

Wait till I call on you, okay?

Here we go.

When Scottish troops go on parade, they are often preceded by a musician playing what instrument?

-Bagpipe.

-[ Laughing ] Yes, Magruder!

It is bagpipe.

Although her carriage driver got lost while traveling from Philadelphia, what first lady eventually reached -- BCC.

Answer?

-Martha Washington.

-No.

Abigail Adams -- becoming the first resident hostess.

Among the first words Annie Sullivan taught Helen Keller was what neutral third-person singular pronoun?

Yes.

BCC.

Answer?

Three.

Two.

One.

-"They"?

-No.

"It."

On your screens -- The motto "I like my choice" adorned the coat of arms of the British nobleman who gave his name to what capital city of Nova -- BCC.

Answer?

-Halifax.

-Yes.

One of America's most beloved modern authors is what woman, who wrote "Beloved"?

Yes.

BCC.

-Morrison.

-Yeah.

Under the Townshend Acts, American colonies were forced to pay taxes on what silicate product that is actually a super-- BCC.

Answer?

-Glass.

-Yeah.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill was voted out of office in the middle of what P-initialed conference -- BCC.

Answer?

Three.

Two.

-Potsdam.

-Yes.

On your screens.

You can complete this statement by adding what word for a number that can be evenly divided -- Magruder.

-Prime.

-Yeah.

Prime.

What two-word term for a crippled bird refers to an elected official serving out -- -Lame -- -Magruder.

-Lame duck.

-[ Laughing ] Yeah.

40% of what number is equal to 300?

Yes.

BCC.

Answer?

Three.

Two.

One.

-800.

-Nah.

Close.

750.

Judge Joseph Holt was criticized for condemning to death what Maryland woman at whose home the plotters -- Yes.

Magruder.

-Surratt.

-Yeah.

Nicely done.

On your screens.

Basra is a seaport on the Shatt al-- Yes.

St.

Albans.

-Iraq.

-Iraq is correct.

Nice.

In the 1890s, Lieutenant James Moss led a new Army unit that utilized what same vehicles ridden in the Tour de France?

Magruder.

-Bicycle.

-Yeah.

In the Federalist, the 62nd essay argued the case for what sort of legislature that has -- BCC.

-Bicameral.

-Yes.

Nicely done.

Bicameral.

Though he said, "I'd rather be right than be president," what 19th-century Kentucky statesman -- Yes.

Magruder.

-Clay.

-Clay is it.

Henry Clay.

On your screens.

Here is a typical declaration from what World War II French general who was -- -De Gaulle.

-De Gaulle is right.

Nicely done, Magruder.

In order to lure investors to South America, Frederic Church was hired to paint pictures of the continent by what man credited with laying the first transatlantic cable in 18-- Magruder.

-Morse.

-No.

Cyrus Field.

Choice -- [ Buzzer ] And that does it.

That is the end of the game!

[ Applause ] We'll be back with the official scores in just a moment.

♪♪ "It's Academic" has been on the air for 65 years.

And over the decades, we've showcased thousands of high school students from all over the DC area.

Today, "It's Academic" continues to celebrate education and remains a critical part of WETA's mission-focused programming.

With the recent loss of federal funding for public media, we need your help now more than ever to support "It's Academic."

Please make a donation and become a Friend of It's Academic today and help keep "It's Academic" on the air and streaming for our students and their futures.

[ Applause ] -This was one great, competitive game.

Only 35 points separate the folks who won from the two that tied.

Let's do these scores.

And we'll begin with Bethesda-Chevy Chase from Bethesda -- Zach, Micah, Seth.

470 points!

[ Applause ] From St.

Albans in DC, Kieran, Arjun, and Matthew -- 470 points!

[ Applause ] And pulling it up from the rear and winning the game at 505 points -- And, Kobe, your reaction was so beautiful.

It was like, "What?!

What?!

We won?"

Magruder -- Sydney, Kobe, Ethan -- 505 points!

[ Cheers and applause ] That does it for today.

We can't wait to see you next time.

Remember, everybody... -It's academic!

-It's academic!

-Bye-bye.

[ Applause ] -Support for "It's Academic" has been provided by the following... George Mason University -- All Together Different.

♪♪ -Call us different.

-Different in where we come from... -...where we're going... -...and how we think.

-But the same in our dreams for tomorrow.

-Driven by the pull of possibility... -...to inspire... -...to think fearlessly... -...to protect and to heal the planet.

-We know the world will change.

-Together... -...we will be the ones to change it.

-Call Mason different -- All... -...together... -...different.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪